Cuomo Raises Possibility of Government Shutdown

In a video posted on his official government website, Gov. Andrew Cuomo this morning raised the possibility of a state government shutdown if the Legislature fails to pass a spending plan by April 1, the start of the fiscal year.

The government “may be forced to shutdown,” Cuomo said. “As your governor, I will make sure we are prepared for this contingency. In the end, I will not compromise the important work you elected me to do.”

Cuomo noted he has the power to pass large portions of his budget in emergency appropriation bills. The measures are usually used to fund the operations of state government day to day while lawmakers and the governor hash out a budget plan when it has gone past the April dud date.

The governor reiterated in desire to use the extender process, which was pioneered by Gov. David Paterson last year, at a news conference on Tuesday in his strongest terms yet.

Cuomo’s proposed $132.9 billion budget closes a $10 billion spending gap without raising taxes, instead relying on large cuts to education and health care. The Senate and Assembly have one-house budget plans that include many of Cuomo’s proposals. But the Assembly, led by liberal Democratic legislators, are proposing a tax on millionaires and the Senate is growing increasingly uneasy over Cuomo’s plan to close and consolidate upstate prisons.

“My budget shakes up the Albany establishment, there’s no doubt,” Cuomo said. “The lobbyists and the special interests have been working overtime.”

Cuomo also added that a shutdown would be temporary. It is unclear what would happen in the event of a state government shutdown, but it is likely state parks and local Department of Motor Vehicles offices would close. State Police would still have to report to duty.